MODULE 9

BIOTECHNOLOGY
Duration: 6 hours

I. Introduction
Every year, new technologies are developed, helping us prepare for and meet
society’s most pressing challenges.  Scientists have been harnessing biological
processes to improve the quality of life. The foods we eat, the water we drink, the
clothes we wear, and the medications we take are products of
biotechnology. Subsequently, it pervades all aspects of our daily life.
In this module, you will be equipped with biotechnology and its impact on society.
It provides a comprehensive overview of the what, why, and how of biotechnology.

II. Objectives/Competencies
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Understand the nature of biotechnology.
2. Explain the various forms and techniques of biotechnology.
3. Converse with the different types of biotechnology and their impacts to society.

III. Pre-test
1. What is technology? Give at least 5 terms associated with technology.
1._____________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________
4._____________________________________________________
5._____________________________________________________

2. Do the activity entitled Let’s Dig In! It will help you familiarize with the
traditional form of biotechnology.
Traditional Form of Description
Biotechnology

1.
 2.

3.

4.

5.

IV. Lesson Proper/Course Methodology

What comes first into your mind when you hear the word “biotechnology”? Maybe
you remember Dolly the cloned sheep, or the BT corn. If that's what you think of, you’re
absolutely right: these are all examples of biotechnology. But what about wine making,
crop breeding, and the antibiotic penicillin? These processes and products are also
examples of biotechnology.
To begin your journey, watch the video entitled “Biotechnology can be beautiful”
by Keira Havens at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRYuN9GaN7I.
Biotechnology is a wide field of Biology. It comprises the living systems and
organisms to produce new products beneficial for mankind. Particularly, it has
applications in various sectors such as industry, medicine and agriculture and to
develop products and technologies that help in improving the lives of people and the
planet.
Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field which involves the use of technology to
change the genetic makeup of living things to solve problems and develop useful
products for human purposes. Primarily, it is the use of an organism, or a component of
an organism or other biological system, to make a product or process.
There are three stages of Biotechnology showing the development from the
earliest domestication to modern methods of Biotechnology in the 21 st Century.
1. Ancient Biotechnology refers to the ancient technology used in the field of
agriculture (food) including domestication. For example, the use of
fermentation is evident in foods (Bread, Cheese, Wine, etc).
2. Classical Biotechnology involves the use of fermentation process in the
field of medicine and for industrial purposes; particularly food production. For
example, huge productions of products like different types of beverages
(beer, wine, cider), vinegar, Acetone, Butanol, antibiotics, vitamins, enzymes
and so on.
 3. Modern Biotechnology revolves on the manipulation of genetic information
in an organism and the birth of genetic engineering.

Furthermore, Modern Biotechnology involves various forms and techniques like

bioinformatics,  nanotechnology, stem cell research, and genetic engineering.
A. Bioinformatics
● It is the short form for ‘Biological Informatics’ and also known as
computational biology. It is a field of study in which biological data links to
information storage, distribution, and analysis.
● Mainly, it comprises designing new algorithms, developing updated
databases, and software in solving many biological problems like high-
throughput data-generating experiments on Genome sequencing
methods, measurements of gene expression patterns and the like.

B. Nanotechnology
● Nanotechnology is a highly multidisciplinary field which involves imaging,
measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at dimensions between
approximately 1 and 100 nanometers.
● To understand the nature of nanotechnology, watch the video at the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIXAzDANmKw.
● Nanomaterials includes
1. Nanopowders that can create innovative materials such as plastics
with resistance to UV light, synthetic bone, more effective drugs, and
catalysts.
2. Nanotubes are hollow cylinders whose walls consist of single or multi-
layered sheets of atoms. It has a special shape formed by a group of
atoms that ensures unique properties of matter. These unique
properties include exceptional strength, flexibility, resistance,
conductivity, and so on. Carbon is the most popular nanomaterial,
specifically the carbon nanotubes. But not all nanotubes are made of
carbon. Boron nitride, gallium nitride, and silicon can also exist in the
form of nanotubes.
3. Nanowires are cylindrical structures but are not hollow compared to
nanotubes. They are suitable for the construction of electronic devices
and chips.
4. Nano-structured membrane is capable for selective filtering of specific
sized molecules of liquids or gases.

● It has a great promise in the field of biology and medicine. It is hailed as

having the potential to solve major health problems and is already useful
as a tool in health care research.
● The following are examples of nanotechnology and nanomaterials:
1. Carbon nanotubes are close to replacing silicon as a material for
microchips and other electronic devices. Graphene's (a carbon
allotrope) properties make it an ideal candidate for the development of
flexible touchscreens.
2. Antibacterial bandages using nanoparticles of silver ions that block
microbes' cellular respiration.
 3. Nanocomponents of solar panels that can double the amount of
sunlight converted into electricity. 
4. Adding aluminum silicate nanoparticles to scratch-resistant polymer
coatings.
5. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium oxide have been used to
enhance pharmaceutical products such as sunscreen.   
6. The properties of some nanomaterials improve early diagnosis and
treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. They are able to
attack cancer cells selectively without harming other healthy cells.
7. Wastewater purification using nanobubbles, nanofiltration systems and
nanocatalyst for environmentally-friendly applications.
8. Nanomaterials like fullerenes are extensively used for fabrics, sports
goods and cleaning products.
9. Nanobiosensors for the detection of pathogens in food and
nanocomposites to improve food production.
10.  Nanotechnology makes it possible to develop smart fabrics.

Watch the video entitled “ How Will Nanotechnology Change the World” at the
link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwF0AH1yWpo&t=1558s

C. Genetic Engineering
● It is a process by which an organism's genetic material is altered or selected
using recombinant DNA technology. Simply, it is a direct manipulation of an
organism’s genome. Its main purpose is for the organism to achieve specific
desirable characteristics.
● The organism that receives the recombinant DNA is called a genetically
modified organism (GMO). If the foreign DNA that is introduced comes from a
different species, the host organism is called transgenic. The following are
some examples of genetically modified organisms:

1. The very first transgenic plant to be produced was a tobacco plant

expressing antibiotic resistance, performed way back in 1982.
2. The first GM crop to be introduced into the market was the Flavr Savr
Tomato with longer and more flavorful shelf life, produced in 1994.
3. Bt cotton is a genetically modified pest resistant plant which produces an
insecticide to combat bollworm.
4. GMO potatoes were developed to resist insect pests and disease.
5. Rainbow papaya was created to resist ringspot virus.
6. GMO Salmon produces growth hormones and fully grown after 18 months
instead of 3 years.

● Some examples of biomedical techniques interventions are:

1. Gene therapy is a genetic engineering technique used to cure disease. In its

simplest form, it involves the introduction of a good normal gene into an
organism’s genome in order to repair and aid the cure of a disease that is
caused by a mutated gene.

2. Cloning means the creation of a perfect replica; however, in biology, it is the

process of re-creating a whole organism and is referred to as “reproductive
cloning.” The first cloned animal was Dolly, a sheep who was born in 1996.
 Dolly lived for seven years and died of respiratory complications. The success
rate of reproductive cloning at the time was very low.

D. Stem Cell Biotechnology
● It is a field of study that develops tools and therapeutics through
modification and engineering of stem cells. Stem cells are cells which have
not yet developed a special structure and function. However, this cells
have the capacity to mature into cells with specific characteristics and
functions.

Nowadays there exist four main groups in biotechnological applications, which have
been identified by a color system.

1. Medical biotechnology (Red Biotechnology) where biotechnology is used in

connection to the field of medicine. It focused on the study of DNA. It involves
how to manipulate the genetic makeup of cells. Its main purpose is to increase
production of beneficial characteristics for the improved health of humans. This
area leads to the development of new drugs and treatments for finding cures as
well as getting rid of and preventing diseases.
Examples of this are the development of new drugs, vaccines and
antibiotics; molecular diagnostics techniques; regenerative therapies; and the
use of genetic engineering to cure diseases.

2. Agricultural Biotechnology (Green Biotechnology) is focused on agriculture

as its working field. It includes different approaches and applications that will
generate new plant varieties with agricultural importance. Primarily, it involves
the development of genetically modified plants. Its purpose is to produce larger
yields or introduce characteristics that will make the plant durable in any stress
factor like weather and pests. Simply, transgenic crops were created. These are
organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using methods of
biotechnology.
Transgenic crops
● These are genetically modified organisms with new genes that
code for traits valuable to humans such as yielding more food,
tasting better, surviving drought, tolerating salty soil, and resisting
insect pests.
NOTE: Genetically modified foods (GM foods) are foods
produced from genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Examples of this are the following:

a. Pest Resistant Crops. These are plants that exhibit anti-pest characteristics
naturally, which keep them from dusting and spraying with pesticides.
An example of this would be the fungus Bacillus thuringiensis genes being
transferred to crops that produces the protein (Bt). It is very effective against
pests such as the European corn borer.

b. Plant and Animal Breeding. In molecular level, different traits are selected
among plants and animals. Once the genetic markers have been pointed out,
desirable traits are selected and bred for those traits to be transferred. An
example of this is the production of enhance color and smell potency of
flowers.
 3. Industrial Biotechnology (White Biotechnology) involves the application of
biotechnology for industrial purposes. Its main goal is to improve the efficiency
and reduce the environmental impacts (less polluting) of industrial processes to
generate products in different sectors such as food, paper and pulp,
textiles, biofuels, etc..

4. Environmental Biotechnology (Grey Biotechnology) is the application of

biotechnology directly related to the environment. It is a technology used in waste
treatment and pollution prevention. An example of this is the process of
bioremediation – the use of microorganisms and plants to isolate and dispose of
different toxic substances such as heavy metals.

Bioethics
Scientific research and development can make new information, techniques, and
knowledge available. As such, Biotechnology has the potential to provide welfares to
people and societies. However, it can pose different types of problems and risks like
negative effects or unintended consequences. A lot of public concern arises through
time. Some of these are:

1. Is the biotechnology innovations carefully tested and analyzed before they are
released for general use?
2. People may doubt the validity of risk assessments, especially with regard to long-
term effects.
3. Safety is the number one concern, not only with health effects but also its
ecological impacts.

Addressing such issues is beyond the scope of this concept. For example,

A transgenic corn created with a natural pesticide. It is beneficial since it

doesn’t need to be sprayed with chemical pesticides and will not be eaten by
insects, thus increasing its production yield. However, the transgenic corn has
been shown to cross-pollinate nearby milkweed plants. The offspring of the
cross-pollinated milkweed plants are now considered a toxic plant to monarch
butterfly caterpillars. Note that monarch butterfly caterpillars depend on milkweed
plants for food. With this alarming scenario, scientists are concerned that this
may threaten the ecological balance of the monarch species as well as other
species that normally eat monarchs.

Based on this example, the benefits of biotechnology may be obvious, but its
adverse impact and unforeseen harm to people, other species, and entire ecosystems
may not be known until it is too late.

Indeed, biotechnology has raised a number of ethical, legal, and social issues.
For a debate about the ethics of applying biotechnology to humans, watch the video at
the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BPna-fSNOE, the science of “perfecting
humans.”

Now for application of what you have learned, create skits to showcase the different
types of biotechnology that have improved life.
V. Reflection/Learning Insights
Reflect.
“Our world is built on biology and once we begin to understand it, it then
becomes a technology”
― Ryan Bethencourt

VI. Post-test
Multiple Choice. Write your answer on the space provided.
______1. When an organism is altered using gene technology, the organism is
then referred to as a
a) generally modified organism b) very modified organism
c) genetically modified organism d) gently modified organism
______2. The application of biotechnology procedures in medical processes is
classified as:
a) White biotechnology b) red biotechnology
c) blue biotechnology d) green biotechnology
______3. Example of green biotechnology is
a) Antibiotics b) industrial chemicals
b) Industrial catalyst d) BT corn and pesticides
_____4. 13. The first transgenic plant to be produced is
a)Tobacco b) Rice c) Cotton d) maize
______5. The transgenic plant flavr savr tomato carries an artificial gene for
(a) Delay ripening process (b) Longer shell life
(c) Added flavors (d) All of these
_____6. Bt Cotton is
(a) Cloned plant (b) Transgenic plant
(c) Hybrid plant (d) Mutated plant
_____7. Gene technology involves the modification of:
a) NDA b) DNA c) NDA d) DAA
______8. Dolly sheep was genetically similar to
(a) The mother from which nucleated fertilized egg was taken
(b) The mother from which nuclear DNA of udder cell was taken
(c) The surrogate mother
(d) Both surrogate mother and nuclear donor mother
______9. A set standards used to regulate own or community activity in relation
to biological world is
(a) Biopotency (b) Biopiracy (c) Biowar (d) Bioethics
______10. Due to _________ tensile strength some of the nano materials are
used in air crafts.
a) Moderate b) Low c) High d) No
______11. Biotechnology is widely used in
a) medicine b) industry c) agriculture d) all of the above
_____12. Nano particles target the rare _______ causing cells and remove them
from blood.
a) Tumour b) Fever c) Infection d) Cold
______13. Fabrics are extensively made out of nano materials like __
a) Carbon nanotubes b) Fullerenes
c) Mega tubes d) Polymers
______14. Bioethics is related to
(a) Preventing biopiracy
 (b) Regulation of unethical activities like gene cloning in animals
(c) Preventing theft of living materials
(d) Moral guidance to the problems in biology
______15. The nanomaterials are used in the light emitted electro luminescence
devices like TV, computer monitor etc.
a) True b) False

VII. Final Requirement

Design a Transgenic Organism.

1. Explain why you want to create it (10 points)

a. How will it benefit you or society? Or How will it harm your enemy?
Come up with a reason for creating this organism.

2. Write the procedure for creating your organism. Describe the details of
each step (10 points).

3. Explain the ethics in creating your organism (10 points).

What possible problem will it bring to the society? What other issues may
occur as a
result of it?

4. Draw your organism (10 points).

VIII. REFERENCES
https://www.bio.org/what-biotechnology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/biotechnology
https://www.britannica.com/technology/biotechnology
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/biotechnology-types-examples-
applications.php
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/genetically-modified-organisms/
https://explorebiotech.com/general-outlook-5-major-branches-biotechnology/
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book
%3A_Concepts_in_Biology_(OpenStax)/10%3A_Biotechnology/
10.2%3A_Biotechnology_in_Medicine_and_Agriculture
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Book
%3A_Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/06%3A_DNA_and_Protein_Synthesis/
6.08%3A_Biotechnology
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book
%3A_Introductory_Biology_(CK-12)/03%3A_Genetics/3.15%3A_Ethical%2C_Legal
%2C_and_Social_Issues_of_Biotechnology
https://www.brighthubengineering.com/manufacturing-technology/104742-the-basics-of-
nanotech/